The Open University

Refugees walking along with their belongings. Image credit:Thinkstock

Open University launches fund for displaced refugees

9 May 2022

A new fund has been launched by The Open University (OU) to support people displaced by conflict or crisis to build a brighter and better future. The Open Futures Sanctuary Scholarships programme is designed to help refugees, forced migrants and people seeking asylum; those fleeing armed conflict, violence, or persecution in their home nation, including […]

The Open University recognises major individual contributions with honorary awards

12 April 2022

After an absence of two years due to Covid restrictions, honorary graduates recently picked up their awards in person, at ceremonies in both London and Brighton. British-Iraqi businessman David Dangoor, who is a major educational and scientific philanthropist, attended the ceremony at The Barbican on one of two days’ celebrations to become a Doctor of […]

Wave of student scholarships launched giving chance for free study

28 March 2022

A series of student support scholarships, worth more than £2.6 million, and designed to open doors for people who might not otherwise be able to afford a degree, are available to apply for from today through The Open University (OU). The Open Futures Fund provides life-changing scholarships, bursaries, and support to disabled veterans, Black […]

OU distance learning student Halima shows her study space at home

The OU partners with Alamy to build a photo collection to better represent Black and Asian students

18 January 2022

To inspire learners from diverse backgrounds to achieve their ambitions, The Open University has commissioned a set of stunning portraits by British Pakistani photographer Inzajeano Latif to capture the perspective of Black and South Asian distance learning students in the UK. The images showcase four Open University students, pictured in their own homes where they […]

OU’s free learning site turns 15 and reaches 100m visitors

12 January 2022

The Open University’s (OU) free learning site, OpenLearn, is celebrating a milestone after clocking up 100 million visitors in the 15 years since it was launched. Established as a trailblazing open educational resource, OpenLearn has successfully broken down barriers to education, with over a thousand courses and 15,000 hours of educational interactives, videos and articles. […]

Skill up for the New Year with career-focused short courses

28 December 2021

As the year draws to a close and thoughts turn inevitably to New Year’s resolutions, The Open University (OU) points the lens at career change in 2022, and invites employees and employers to consider its innovative range of short courses. Known as microcredentials, these career-focused courses are hosted on the OU’s co-owned social learning […]

Open University academic wins prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry Education Prize

23 November 2021

Michael Seery of the School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, has been named the winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Nyholm Prize for Education. Nominated by their peers, Professor Seery was chosen by the RSC’s prestigious panel of judges as one of the most inspirational, innovative and dedicated people in education. Having recently […]

Tributes paid to OU’s former University Secretary Fraser Woodburn

23 November 2021

It is with great sadness that we share news of the death of Fraser Woodburn, former University Secretary of The Open University, who died peacefully at home on 11 November. Fraser served as the OU’s University Secretary for 17 years from 1999 to the end of 2015, working with four Vice-Chancellors in that period. He […]

How firms can support employees to address the climate change challenges

17 November 2021

As COP26 leaves its mark it’s clear we are entering a pivotal time in terms of the climate change emergency, with implications for Learning & Development and HR leaders to support their employees through potential future change and disruption. Here, the OU’s Dr Volker Patent, Chartered Psychologist and Lecturer in the School of Psychology at […]

Lifelong learning: Proving the power to transform lives at any age

10 November 2021

Achieving career change, aiding self-belief or keeping up an active mind – just some of the many reasons our students give us for taking up study as we celebrate Lifelong Learning Week. We’re joining forces with the Learning and Work Institute to promote the value of lifelong learning, something that’s very much part of our […]

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